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LA JOLLA, Calif. - The No. 11 UC San Diego men’s water polo team finished the 2013 Triton Invitational Sunday, using an offensive explosion from Jeffrey Jarvis to defeat Cal Lutheran 14-3 in game one. In the final game of the two-day event at Canyonview Aquatic Center, the Tritons fell to No. 2 UCLA 16-6.

Jarvis led UCSD on the day with five goals, while David Higginson (San Diego/The Bishop's School) added three and Tician Toplak poured in two. Cameron Ravanbach (La Jolla/La Jolla HS) totaled 17 saves in the cage to lead the Tritons.

Game One – UCSD 14, Cal Lutheran 3

UCSD received five goals from Jarvis and used a strong first half to down Cal Lutheran 14-3 Sunday in the morning session of the Triton Invitational.

The Tritons came out firing on all cylinders early in the first quarter, moving the ball well to create open opportunities on goal to jump ahead 4-0 after the first period. UCSD wasted no time jumping on the scoreboard, scoring at the 7:36 mark following a beautiful touch-pass from Matt Michalko (San Diego/The Bishop's School) to Chase Cockerill who buried the pass into the back of the cage. The Tritons scored three more times before the period came to a close, leading 4-0.

A balanced scoring attack in the second period helped the Tritons head into halftime up 8-0. UCSD received goals from Joe Dietrich, Higginson, Jarvis and Toplak. Meanwhile on the defensive side, spearheaded by Ravanbach in the cage, the Tritons shut out the Kingsmen for the second straight period.

Cal Lutheran ended the scoring drought early in the third with a goal from Max Zappas, but the Tritons responded by outscoring the Kingsmen 5-2 in the period. UCSD ended the period with three consecutive goals, highlighted by two from Jarvis and one from Toplak.

Heading into the final period up 13-2, UCSD surrender a goal to CLU’s Cameron Knudsen before Daniel Straub made the final 14-3 with his first career goal as a Triton.

Alongside the five goals from Jarvis, Toplak totaled three, De Vivo added two and Straub, Cockerill, Dietrich and Higginson rounded out the scoring with one apiece.

In the net, Ravanbach stopped six shots while Daniel Schwartz collected seven saves in his UCSD debut.

Cal Lutheran’s Jesse Owen amassed 10 saves, respectively.

Game Two – UCLA 16, UCSD 6

UCSD was not able to overcome a slow start against UCLA, falling to the Bruins 16-6. Higginson was a bright spot for the Tritons, scoring three times in the loss.

After the Bruins grabbed the first goal of the game, UCSD responded quickly by taking advantage of a six-on-five advantage with a goal from Michalko to knot the game at one. Any momentum that swung the Tritons way was eliminated after the Bruins managed three consecutive goals to end the period up 4-1.

The Tritons cut the deficit to three in the second period following a Higginson goal, but wouldn't be able to come any closer following a three-goal run by the Bruins to go ahead 8-2. Heading into intermission, the Tritons trailed 8-3 after Higginson found the back of the net for the second time in the period with 19 seconds to go.

With the game still in striking distance, the Tritons forced a penalty inside the five meter line. Looking to capitalize on the free shot, Bruin goalkeeper Garrett Danner blocked the penalty shot and was rewarded with a goal from his offense on the next possession. UCLA finished out the period with two more goals, distancing the lead to 12-4.

The Bruins proved to be too much to handle in the final frame, outscoring the Tritons 4-2. Tommy Friedrich (Carlsbad/ Carlsbad HS) and Higginson netted the final two goals for the Tritons, making the final 16-6.

Ravanbach grabbed 11 saves for UCSD in the loss.

Daniel Lenhart and Lovre Milos led the way for the Bruins, scoring three goals apiece while Danner recorded 13 saves.

UCSD will travel to Claremont next weekend (Sept. 13-14) to play three games. The Tritons will take on Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, Pomona-Pitzer and No. 1 USC.